WWII is officially over & Georgie Young, an English reporter, goes to Allied-run Hamburg, Germany to find out what life is like & report back to the Britons. Germany is a mess - so many displaced people, hunger, thieves, & a murderer killing women. Georgie ends up helping Harri Schroder, the head policeman of the murder cases, to figure out what is going on & catch this brutal killer. This historical murder mystery had me drawn in. I’m off to find more of this author’s books!

Absolutely fabulous read! Could not put it down. Set in devastated Hamburg a few months after the war ends, a British journalist, Georgie sets out to write what it is like there for the readers back in the UK, who are tired of rations and blame the Germans for everything. She befriends some unlikely people, a policeman, a woman who was in the camps, and a young girl living in the burned out rubble of the once industrial city. A balanced view from all sides, with an added twist. A murderer is on the loose, targeting young women. Great characters written with depth and feeling. The scenario set with bursts of colour from the makeshift swing parties alongside such impossible hardship. This story was just so well told!

As an avid reader I read a lot of very enjoyable novels in a year but occasionally one will stand out from the crowd and this one certainly does. Set in Hamburg in 1946, a city recovering from the ravages of war and under occupation from the victorious allies, Georgie a reporter arrives tasked with writing a series of articles about the state of post war Germany. She meets a variety af disparate characters and becomes involved in the investigation of a serial killer preying on women among the bombed out ruins. The author paints the scene of devastation, hunger and hopelessness among the defeated population with great skill and gives a great sense of atmosphere.
The Hidden Storyteller may be the title but Mandy Robotham goes from strength to strength as a storyteller of consummate skill and I look forward to reading more of her work.

this latest novel by Mandy Robotham is based in Hamburg in 1946.
The war is over, and Germany is in ruins. Reporter Georgie Young returns to the country she fled seven years prior – at the onset of the conflict – to find it unrecognisable.
local detective is attempting catch a killer targeting women on the city’s streets and Georgie tries to help
excellent!!

Being a huge fan of Mandy Robotham and her books I couldn't go past this one. With the war being over but what secrets will be found amongst the devastation, ashes and remains and will live ever return to 'normal'?

This is a truly wonderful historical read about espionage, betrayal, bravery and courage. It is a book that will get to your heart with it's emotion and it will pull you in to the story so much you won't want to put this book down until the final page. I love the characters in this story with their strength, courage and even fear. It is written in a way that is so believable. I could go on but I will let others read it and enjoy it.

A wonderful book, intense read and one I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this books.

Great historical fictional account set in post-WW2 Hamburg. Georgie , a journalist, learns more about the misery and confusion of internally displaced people surviving in the ruins of the city and living hand-to-mouth. She makes valuable friends among the locals and helps to catch a serial killer. Thought-provoking, sad, heart-warming and informative. Very readable and highly recommended.

We have got used to reading stories about the war. This book is a different as it covers the period in Germany just afterwards, a time we forget about, when survival was horrendous and keeping warm, dry and vaguely fed a daily grind. It tells the story of survival in a war ravaged Germany together with a murder mystery. I really enjoyed it as it was well written and kept me glued.

It was Ok and would give the book 2.5 stars. I enjoyed it more than "The Berlin Girl." I probably wouldn't have read it if I realized it was a continuation of Georgie Young's story. This book took me forever to finish. I started, stopped for quite a while and then made myself finish it. It was so hard to get into. The story felt slow and and I didn't find it very interesting. Georgie's able to find compassion for so many people except her husband. She's afraid of becoming a "frau" and doesn't want to give up her life of traipsing across Europe and writing stories. She constantly puts herself in danger. She found it hard to make time to write letters to her husband, but there was always time for unnecessary flirting with Harri. I knew right away who the killer was. I didn't know his name, but knew it would be him after he first meets Georgie.

Definitely recommend giving the book a try, it just wasn't for me. I enjoyed many of the author's previous books but Georgie Young is just not my cup of tea. I found Harri, Meta and Zofia's story to be more interesting than Georgie. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was quite different. It was set in Germany after WW2. A spate of young women are being murdered. Gergie Young , a British reporter becomes involved in the investigation . I enjoy this author's books

In this new novel, The Hidden Storyteller, Mandy Robotham places the story in Hamburg in 1946.

I realised after reading this book that the main character, Georgie Young, was the central character of a previous book by Mandy Robotham, The Berlin Girl. And because I have only recently discovered Mandy's books, I have not yet read the Berlin Girl, something that will change very soon. Importantly, this does not get in the way of The Hidden Storyteller as the story is totally self standing.

Georgie Young is posted in Hamburg as a journalist and is working on a series of pieces for her editor. She wants to understand what is happening in post-war Germany, how people live and restore their lives after the damage the war has caused. She meets a police inspector, Harri, and finds herself involved in an investigation about a series of women murders. She is helped by a number of people who each illustrate a part of the Hamburg post-war society.

A solid research gives this story a vivid and interesting historical backdrop. The characters are strong, interesting and they all bear the marks of years of a life where they have experienced so much heartbreak. In particular, the novel brings to light the condition of the kids, Trummerkinder, surviving among the ruins.

A very good read with a engrossing plot which provides food for thought about what happens after a war, how it continues to shape relationships between former belligerents and how long the effects of war continue to manifest themselves for the populations concerned. Historical yet so current.

HISTORIC, MURDER MYSTERY, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. This was such a great read! I found myself staying up so I could find out more or getting frustrated at myself for being too tired to keep going. I needed to know what was going on! Loved this book so much. I loved all of the characters’ POVs. It was easy to keep up with and read.

Robotham's eloquent and descriptive writing immediately draws the reader in, evoking a myriad of emotions and feelings for the characters from the very beginning. The novel is thought-provoking, offering insights into the realities of post-war life and the lasting impact of conflict on individuals and societies. Robotham's masterful storytelling paints a vivid picture of the complexities and hardships of post-war Germany, leaving a lasting impression on readers and prompting deeper reflection on the human cost of war.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

“People have fought for years to survive Hitler’s madness, and they’re dying because we can’t feed the peace.”

This is the post war Germany we hear very little about. What a mess. The end of war celebrations of the Allied forces pale in the face of the German citizens who lived under Nazi rule through the war. They’ve lost parents, spouses, children, homes and jobs. Food is scarce, cigarettes are used for trade, and a constant trail of the displaced wander streets looking for soup kitchens and relief camps.

In “The Hidden Storyteller”, London reporter Georgie traveled to post war Hamburg, Germany. The allied forces there showed little sympathy for the Germans—and the Germans were not all that thankful for the presence of British troops. The British officers and troops had food and comfort—Germans did not. Allied countries still on food rations did not care if Germans were hungry. Rail lines were destroyed all around, making food delivery even more slow and difficult.

I appreciate the author’s insight and I found her characters to be real, raw and interesting. I cheered on Meta and loved revisiting Georgie’s story.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Well to begin with Mandy Robotham is my favourite author of recent years. I was so excited that she has brought out yet another novel based in WW2 Germany. As is my usual way with reviews, I will not be repeating the precise of the story here as I believe that the professionals do a better job without giving too much away. What you really need to know is whether this book is worth reading. If you enjoy historical fiction based in the mid 20th C, then you can never be disappointed by Mandy's novels. This one has a gripping storyline with a strong female character, a large amount of thrilling escapes and a dash of romance, all really well written. What more can you ask for!

The Hidden Storyteller by Mandy Robotham is an eye opening tale of life in post war Germany after the fall of Adolf Hitler. More homeless than can be counted, starving and dying in the streets. Children with no family. Police with no resources. And one reporter determined to tell the truth. Georgie Young sets out to tell the world the story, and in the process, finds herself involved in a murder investigation with the local police. Such a good story with so much info about life after the war that I didn’t know. I loved it. One of my favorites this year. Thanks #NetGalley and the publisher.

The Hidden Storyteller by Mandy Robotham is a thrilling story that shows the story of a murder mystery post World War II. In 1946 Hamburg, reporter Georgie Young returns to the country she fled seven years prior to find it unrecognisable. Georgie discovers pockets of warmth: a violinist playing amidst the wreckage, couples dancing in the streets, and a nation trying to make amends.Joining forces with local detective Harri Schroder to catch a killer targeting women on the city’s streets, curiosity draws Georgie deep into the dark underbelly, and she soon discovers that some secrets of war did not die with Hitler

Robotham does a wonderful job creating an inspirational story of mystery in Germany during post World War II. The War Pianist had me turning the pages to the very end. This book is an easy 4 stars. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own. I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book is set in Germany after the end of World War II and we are re-introduced to Georgie Young from the authors previous book The Berlin Girl. It is a powerful story with lots of insights into life in Hamburg in 1946 and the British occupation zone. With a serial killer known as The Puppet Master on the loose Georgie joins forces with policeman Harri Schroder to help crack the case.

This is a well written, well researched and compelling work of fiction which I really enjoyed and it will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#TheHiddenStoryteller by @robothammandy @avonbooksuk

➡️synopsis

As a fan of this author, I was definitely looking forward to getting stuck into this one and do you know what I really enjoyed it.

I hopefully won’t be the only one who never really gave any thought to the post war hardships here or abroad assuming the war ended and all was good again, so I really enjoyed this educational insight. The author did a great job of making you feel like you were there experiencing it all, but while also keeping a tight check on your emotions. This is really helped by the main narrator and returning character Georgie who with her no nonsense attitude carried the narrative well and kept everything measured and steady.

Of course I loved the incorporated murder mystery and Harri’s character role and narration. It really added to the excitement of the book and gave the plot a grounding point. The 2nd half is definitely where all the action is but the first is needed to set the scene of post war Hamburg.This could be my favourite so far!

With thanks to author #mandyrobotham #avonbooks and @netgalley for allowing us to read this one early!

RELEASING: FEB 29th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

Another excellent novel from this author. This is such a thought provoking story of the poverty, deprivation and chaos suffered by the inhabitants of Hamburg, and the huge number of misplaced people who gravitated there in search of food and a roof over their heads in the aftermath of WW2. I am impressed anew at the research that has clearly gone into this heartbreaking story.
It was good to meet again Georgie, the protagonist of The Berlin Girl, the journalist who reported back to UK and USA about the inexorable rise of the Third Reich and Hitler,in the early 1930s.
Her quest is no less dangerous this time, as she seeks to assist a local detective in his search for a serial killer of young women. In the process she finds herself becoming caught up once again in the ugly underbelly of life in post-war Hamburg.
Captivating storytelling kept me reading late into the night. Mandy Robotham has become one of my favourite authors. I look forward to her next work.
My thanks to the publisher, and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

This evocative historical fiction draws you into the aftermath of wartorn Hamburg. Georgie, a journalist's role was to write about British-administered Germany in 1946. The signs of devastation and decay are evident in the infrastructure and, more worryingly, the population. The story focuses on several characters who are believable and relatable and make you invest in them. This story's crime theme brings the journalist together with displaced citizens, police and the military. The lyrical writing captures the vivid destruction and the uneasy alliance between the German people, refugees and the allies. Immersive and poignant, it's a sensory experience that resonates. I like the characters, the dynamic between Georgie and the people she meets and the vivid portrait the author reveals for the reader.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.